My Top Family Board Games

Turn Iʼm bored into Iʼm board . . .

Letʼs face it. The kids are bored. Scrolling through 115 television channels, each of which has nothing on, was never your idea of “family time”. Why not spend some quality time with your children that doesnʼt involve some form of video screen?

Playing classic or new board games with the family is a great way to cement those familial bonds. Games can be a fun activity for all ages and all types of families -- traditional, non-traditional, blended or choice.

Board games can combine entertainment and laughter with education. Sometimes the learning is so subtle, your children donʼt even realize it! Games teach sportsmanship, problem-solving, teamwork, and everything from reading skills to motor skills. Creativity can be fostered in children of all ages, including your spouse! The whole family can learn about history, budgeting, or geography while having a ball doing so. Not sure where to start? I've listed some of my favorites below that should work for any family.

Board games are a terrific investment. Unlike a day at the movies -- where you blow 50 bucks on tickets, popcorn, and drinks that will wire the children for the rest of the day -- a board game can be played over and over. Games are available to pass a pleasant hour or a pleasant afternoon.

So the next time you hear one of your children say, “Iʼm bored,” turn that into board -- a family board game that is.

Ticket to Ride

Price: $49.99$43.90 (12% off)

Highlights

For 2-5 players

Tons of replay value

One of the most popular specialty games of all time

Takes 30-60 minutes to play

There are 225 Colored Train Cars

Description

With elegantly simple gameplay, Ticket to Ride can be learned in under 15 minutes, while providing players with intense strategic and tactical decisions every turn. Players collect cards of various types of train cars they then use to claim railway routes in North America. The longer the routes, the more points they earn. Additional points come to those who fulfill Destination Tickets goal cards that connect distant cities; and to the player who builds the longest continuous route.

"The rules are simple enough to write on a train ticket. Each turn you either draw more cards, claim a route, or get additional Destination Tickets," says Ticket to Ride author, Alan R. Moon. "The tension comes from being forced to balance greed and adding more cards to your hand, and fear losing a critical route to a competitor."

Ticket to Ride continues in the tradition of Days of Wonder's big format board games featuring high-quality illustrations and components including: an oversize board map of North America, 225 custom-molded train cars, 144 illustrated cards, and wooden scoring markers.

King of Tokyo

Price: $39.99

Highlights

For 2-6 players

30 minute playing time

From Richard Garfield, the designer of Magic: The Gathering

Fast-paced, lively family game

Description

King of Tokyo is a game from Richard Garfield in which you will be able to play mutant monsters gigantic robots and other aliens all of whom are happily whacking each other in a joyous atmosphere in order to become the one and only King of Tokyo. When it is your turn to play you throw six dice. Each die bears the following six symbols: 1 2 or 3 Points of Destruction Energy Healing and Whack. In three successive throws you are going to choose whether to keep or discard each die in order to come up with combinations that will enable you to win destruction points hoard energy restore your health or whack other players into understanding Tokyo is your territory.

The fiercest player will be crowned King of Tokyo and will end up facing all the other monsters alone! Top this off with special cards that you can purchase with energy and that have a permanent or temporary effect such as the growing of a second head which grants you an additional die body armor nova death ray and more and you hold one of the most explosive games of the year! In order to win the game one must either destroy Tokyo by accumulating 20 destruction points or be the only surviving monster once the fighting has ended.

Ticket to Ride: Europe

Highlights

Ticket To Ride - Europe Is A Complete, New Game And Does Not Require The Original Version

Also Includes 5 Wooden Scoring Markers, 1 Rules Booklet, 1 Days Of Wonder Online Access Number

Description

Get ready for a new train adventure as you travel across Europe with Ticket to Ride - Europe, the new edition of the worldwide hit from Days of Wonder. From Edinburgh to Constantinople and from Lisbon to Moscow, the game will take you on a ride to the great cities of turn-of-the-century Europe. More than just a new map, Ticket to Ride - Europe features brand new gameplay elements including Tunnels, Ferries and Train Stations. Plus, we've upgraded you to First-Class accommodations with larger cards, new Train Station game pieces, and a lavishly illustrated game-board. Like the original, the game remains elegantly simple, can be learned in three minutes, and appeals to both families and experienced gamers. Ticket to Ride - Europe is a complete, new game and does not require the original version.

Price: $38.06$37.99 (0% off)

For 2-5 Players

Takes 30-60 minutes to play

Ticket To Ride - Europe Is A Complete, New Game And Does Not Require The Original Version

Also Includes 5 Wooden Scoring Markers, 1 Rules Booklet, 1 Days Of Wonder Online Access Number

Love Letter

Price: $11.99$9.90 (17% off)

Highlights

A game of risk; deduction and luck

For 2 to 4 player game

Takes 15 minutes playtime

Description

All of the eligible young men (and many of the not-so-young) seek to woo the princess of Tempest. Unfortunately, she has locked herself in the palace, and you must rely on others to bring your romantic letters to her. Will yours reach her first? Love Letter is a game of risk, deduction, and luck for 2 to 4 players. Your goal is to get your love letter into Princess Annettes hands while deflecting the letters from competing suitors.

From a deck with only sixteen cards, each player starts with only one card in hand; one card is removed from play. On a turn, you draw one card, and play one card, trying to expose others and knock them from the game. Powerful cards lead to early gains, but make you a target. Rely on weaker cards for too long, however, and your letter may be tossed in the fire!

Pandemic

Price: $39.99$35.99 (10% off)

Highlights

For 2-4 Players

60 minute playing time

Updated version of the popular co-operative game

Description

Four diseases have broken out in the world and it is up to a team of specialists in various fields to find cures for these diseases before mankind is wiped out. Players must work together playing to their characters' strengths and planning their strategy of eradication before the diseases overwhelm the world with ever-increasing outbreaks.

For example the Operation Specialist can build research stations which are needed to find cures for the diseases. The Scientist needs only 4 cards of a particular disease to cure it instead of the normal 5. But the diseases are out breaking fast and time is running out: the team must try to stem the tide of infection in diseased areas while also towards cures. A truly cooperative game where you all win or you all lose.

Lords of Waterdeep

Highlights

An exciting Euro-style board game set in Waterdeep, the greatest city and jewel of the Forgotten Realms

This immersive game casts players as Lords of Waterdeep who hire adventurers to complete quests

Game play: 1 hour

Perfect for 2 to 5 players

Description

Waterdeep, the City of Splendors--the most resplendent jewel in the Forgotten Realms, and a den of political intrigue and shady back-alley dealings. In this game, the players are powerful lords vying for control of this great city. Its treasures and resources are ripe for the taking, and that which cannot be gained through trickery and negotiation must be taken by force!

In Lords of Waterdeep you take on the role of one of the masked Lords of Waterdeep, secret rulers of the city. Through your agents, you recruit adventurers to go on quests on your behalf, earning rewards and increasing your influence over the city. Expand the city by purchasing new buildings that open up new actions on the board, and hinder â€“ or help â€“ the other lords by playing Intrigue cards to enact your carefully laid plans.

During the course of play, you may gain points or resources through completing quests, constructing buildings, playing intrigue cards or having other players utilize the buildings you have constructed. At the end of 8 rounds of play, the player who has accrued the most points wins the game.

Price: $49.99$38.23 (24% off)

An exciting Euro-style board game set in Waterdeep, the greatest city and jewel of the Forgotten Realms

This immersive game casts players as Lords of Waterdeep who hire adventurers to complete quests

Qwirkle

Price: Unavailable

Highlights

TACTICAL STRATEGY: Featuring a massive amount of in game choices, including three tiles each of thirty six possible color symbol combinations, Qwirkle is the perfect game to hone player's tactical maneuvers, strategical planning, and forward thinking. Will you see the monolithic move that catapults you into first place?

EASY TO FOLLOW RULES: An engaging game with easy to follow rules, Qwirkle is great for younger players. The rules of the game are basic: simply build lines by matching tiles based on either color or shape, and score points for doing so. However, the ability to build complex combinations will keep children interested and engaged, and challenge them mentally

GAMES THAT TEACH: Qwirkle is playable from early ages up, allowing young children and older individuals alike to develop and hone their spacial recognition, planning, and problem solving skills. Plan, win, and learn simultaneously

FAMILY FAVORITE: Qwirkle is a fantastic game for families, as it can involve a wide range of ages, from children to adults. It only takes a few moments to explain, so new players such as extended family or your child's play dates can jump right in and play

Description

Qwirkle Game, strategy fun for all ages! A major award winner and all - time best - seller! Qwirkle is a game of strategy where you score by building rows of blocks related by shape and / or color. No reading required, so even younger kids can enjoy it (along with us older types!) It's super easy to learn... but then the challenges come, as you analyze the tactical maneuvers to rack up points.

Few games have racked up as many prominent awards as Qwirkle because it's so fun, engaging and educational. You get 108 colorful wooden tiles, a drawstring pouch and instructions. For 2-4 players, recommended for ages 6 and up. Winner of: Parent's Choice Gold Award; Mensa Select Award; Major Fun Award; Creative Child Magazine Award. A sure-thing hit for your family, hours of mind-building fun guaranteed... get it now!

Price: Unavailable

TACTICAL STRATEGY: Featuring a massive amount of in game choices, including three tiles each of thirty six possible color symbol combinations, Qwirkle is the perfect game to hone player's tactical maneuvers, strategical planning, and forward thinking. Will you see the monolithic move that catapults you into first place?

EASY TO FOLLOW RULES: An engaging game with easy to follow rules, Qwirkle is great for younger players. The rules of the game are basic: simply build lines by matching tiles based on either color or shape, and score points for doing so. However, the ability to build complex combinations will keep children interested and engaged, and challenge them mentally

GAMES THAT TEACH: Qwirkle is playable from early ages up, allowing young children and older individuals alike to develop and hone their spacial recognition, planning, and problem solving skills. Plan, win, and learn simultaneously

FAMILY FAVORITE: Qwirkle is a fantastic game for families, as it can involve a wide range of ages, from children to adults. It only takes a few moments to explain, so new players such as extended family or your child's play dates can jump right in and play

Smash Up

Price: $34.99$18.79 (46% off)

Highlights

For 2-4 players

Takes about an hour to play

"Shufflebuilding" card game

Description

The "shuffle-building" game Smash Up starts with a simple premise: Take the twenty-card decks of two factions, shuffle them into a forty-card deck, then compete to smash more Bases than your opponents. Each faction brings a different game mechanism into play – pirates move cards, zombies bring cards back from the discard pile, dinosaurs have huge power – and every combination of factions brings a different play experience.

During play, Base cards (each with their own difficulties and abilities) are in play. You attempt to have the most power on the Base from your minions when the Base is smashed. Sounds easy? How easy is it when an opponent's Alien-Ninja decides to Beam Up your minions to other Bases - flat out Assassinate them? What about when the Pirate-Dinosaur player Full Sails in and releases King Rex to stomp your minions into the ground, or when the Wizard-Zombies use their Mystic Power to create an Outbreak, suddenly flooding minions onto the Base from the discard pile? Or what if you faced a Zombie-Dinosaur player instead and he created an Outbreak of massive beasts all at once?

When a Base is smashed, each player in first, second and third place scores points. Fourth place? Sorry, bro – try harder next time. With eight different factions, Smash Up includes dozens of combinations to try. Pirate-Aliens play different than Ninja-Aliens, for instance. Which will you use to smash up your opponents? And did we mention the dinosaurs have laser beams?

Hanabi

Price: $10.95$8.03 (27% off)

Highlights

For 2-5 players

2013 Spiele des Jahres game of the year

Takes about 20-30 minutes to play

60 Hanabi cards, 8 blue clock tokens, 4 black fuse tokens

Description

An intriguing and innovative card game. Race against the clock to build a dazzling fireworks finale! Trouble is, you can see the cards that everyone holds ... except your own. Working together, you must give and receive vital information in order to play your cards in the proper launch sequence. Build and light each firework correctly to win the game and avoid a fizzling fiasco!

Rampage

Price: $59.99

Highlights

Dexterity-based gameplay

Special power-up cards

Family fun game experience

Description

In the game of Rampage players each control one of the four monsters and their objective is to cause the most damage to the city while eating the Meeple citizens. Each turn consists of choosing two actions to complete. These actions include: Movement, Attack a Building, Hurl a truck, or Monster Breath. Eating Meeples does not take an action, however, players are limited each turn by the number of teeth their monster has remaining. The game ends when the buildings are destroyed. Buildings, Meeples eaten and the Other Monster's Teeth are worth points. To be victorious, players will need to use a combination of dexterity, planning and luck.